Mock Draft Monday: Full 3 Round Mock

NEPD Staff Contributor: Jeff Fidler

Doing a mock draft for every team is hard, even when you are just looking at the first round. Trust me, I am struggling just trying to get through my own and its only round 1. When Jeff told me he was working on a three round mock, I thought he was crazy. Maybe passionate is the right word. I am sure that not everyone is going to love every pick, but Jeff should be commended for the hard work and thought he put into every pick.

1. Browns – Sam Darnold – QB, Nothing matters unless the Browns get their QB & they take a guy w/ incredible upside, traits on top of traits

2. Giants – Josh Rosen – QB,Giants will have no shortage of suitors for this pick but they keep it & take Rosen. Sit him for a year or two to build up the team around him while keeping Eli & giving the team & fans reason to believe for the present day.

5. Bills (Via Broncos) – Josh Allen – QB, Bills are in a rough spot here. They absolutely need a QB, can’t wait for Arizona, Miami or another QB needy team to jump ahead of them.

6. Colts – Saquon Barkley – RB, Indy gets lucky & lands Barkley .

7. Bucs – Derwin James – S, Tampa has gotten a chance to see James play up close for years & can’t pass up the local product.

8. Bears – Quenton Nelson – G, My topped ranked player. Nelson is a safe pick but his play will be felt along the entire offense, he’s that good. Also if you’re drafting a G this high, he must play mean. Nelson is a nasty dude on the field.

9. 49ers – Tremaine Edmunds – LB,San Fran needs help at Sam, someone can fulfill LB duties but provide some Pass rush if needed. At 19 Edwards is a baby w/ incredible potential in that role, on that team.

10. Oakland – Minkah Fitzpatrick – S/CB. Arguably the most versatile, pro ready defender in the class. Oakland needs the help & now has the multiple secondary to combat today’s offensive machines.

23. Rams – Will Hernandez – OL, will be Goff’s enforcer & clear paths for TG3. Hernandez is a throw back mauler who will set a tone early on in the running game.

24. Panthers – Rasheem Green – RUSH, might not be on some people’s 1st round radar but he fits the mold for several teams in terms of DE (Cincy, Carolina, Arizona etc) He has some nice tools, is very young & very big 6’4+/275.

26. Atlanta – Tavon Bryan – DT, is another guy that fits the multiple mold of today’s defenses. You can rush at times on the edge (he has some sweet bend for a big boy) & obviously rush him inside beside Grady.

27. Saints – Justin Reid – CB, Have been looking for a versatile, smart S for some time now. Reid def looks & plays like that guy.

Cannon missed half of last season (he was always injury prone), Waddle had injuries as well, Jelks missed his last 3 seasons, Tobin was a backup in the worst offensive line in the league and even though the doctors cleared Garcia he’s probably not going to play next season.

1) Trade up for tackle Mike McGlinchey – Mike McGlinchey is the best pure LT tackle in the draft. Currently patriots have pick 31 – which is worth 600 points pick 43 which is 470 points these two packaged together can get you as high pick 15 the Arizona Cardinals. This is the team I could see us trading with. Arizona most likely will miss out on qbs and is in a complete rebuild two picks may be exactly what they want rather than one player. Look for Patriots to trade with Arizona if Mike Mcglinchey is still on the board at 15.

2) Trade up scenario two – Kolton Miller I think the Patriots may trade for Miller. Pats may be willing to give up the first round pick 600 and the late third round pick number 95 which is worth 120 points. This would get the patriots up to to approx. pick 25. Ironically this is perfect trade partner the Tennessee Titans whose GM used to work with Patriots and has many former pats on their team. Don’t see Tenneessee desperate for any one player and can’t see them not liking this trade as well.

3) Trade Scenario 3 – FOR FUTURE QB – This would be the big move of the draft but patriots would trade 31, 43, and next years first which would say project as a 650ish value (late first) to go all the way up to pick 4. Pick 4 is valued at 1800 which matches the value pretty close. Who has pick 4 the Cleveland Browns – Browns and pats have already traded twice this offseason with new GM John Dorsey. Browns will draft a qb at 1 and really are in a full rebuild and really don’t need one specific player after taking a qb at 4 as they have tons of needs. The player this move to me would be for is Baker Mayfield or Josh Allen as their would be prime targets for the Denver Broncos. Both I believe have the biggest upside of the qbs in the draft. Both are incredibly smart gifted players with massive talents and huge chips on their shoulders. I would love either of these QBs but my preference would be Allen. Allen is the only player I can guess may have a chance to become the best player in the NFL no other player in this draft has that level of upside. With the right coaching he could be next big Great Patriots QB. I think most people would dismiss this from happening and say no chance pats make a big move. I on otherhand truly believe their is a legit chance this happens and patriots make the big move of the draft and surprise everyone. Pats have been relatively quiet and haven’t moved up in tyhe first round in a long time but I think Allen or Mayfield are worth it.

Trade Scenario 4 – Patriots Trade back. I don’t believe this happens given we already have two second round picks bill typically likes spacing out our picks into zones so trading back really does not serve a purpose given we already have a pick in 40s and 60s.

Darn interesting scenario’s Tristan though I don’t see us goving up all that it would take to get to #4 for Allen or any other QB this year. That said the other two trades are not completely out of the question, maybe not likely but still possible. We do have some rebuilding to do ourselves. Given Bill’s history It seems more likely if one of the better LT”s isn’t there or a high value need he would trade down for more picks. I like Russell’s scenario where we trade our 1st to Det. for there 2nd, 4th & 5th. That depends if Det. would look to do that? But that’s always the case with proposed trades.

With regard to the Patriots picks – Mike Hughes has significant off the field concerns not a fan of the pick. Only one year of decent production. First round is supposed to be starter. I think he has to almost sit an entire year. Very raw player feels a lot like the overdraft of Cyrus Jones for special teams need as he is good on returns.

Duke Ejoifer I don’t mind however massive overdraft. The guy has been injured the entire off season with shoulder surgery and may not be ready for training camp is projected as a late round pick.

Jamarco Jones -too slow and sluggish and inconsistent one of the most overrated tackles in the class. Decent size. Dont like at all for Patriots.

I like Kurt Benkert has a swagger, accuracy issues but is playmaker. I don’t mind that pick.

I wouldn’t be stunned if we trade up for Mike McGlinchey or Kolton Miller in the first round. Has shown strong interest in both but I am confident neither will be there at 31 given it is thin tackle group. Josh Allen if he slipped a bit I wouldn’t be stunned on a trade up for him either but I think it is next to impossible he makes it out of top 5. We did attend his pro day.

Sam Hubbard – Talented player good size can play in space and rush passer. Great at setting the edge. Very disruptive. Former Lacrose Player. Had private workout with Bill. Fits major need at dline and linebacker

Dallas Goedert – Talented tight end small school highly productive. Become #2 tight end right away

Kyle Lauletta – I think pats draft Lauletta, Falk or Litton if we don’t trade up in first round in the draft. No explanation needed big time need to get young qb in the system

Joe Ostman – Huge motor huge production insanely distruptive player. Undersized high character player. worked out with Pats I think he is a key mid round target for pats. Can play Linebacker or dline.

Brett Toth – Army tackle – huge talent and great size. played mainly right tackle but has size and athletic ability for left tackle. main concern is whether he will be required to do military service right away. Patriots took chance on a Long snapper in same situation definitely should be willing to take chance with a top end tackle prospect.

Skai Moore – can play in space great tackler and motor. good movement skills. undersized linebacker but has great ball sikills. Had huge interception production and pass deflections for a linebacker. Can really by a strong safety as well. Playmaker which is what pats defense needs badly.

Jordan Thomas – good cover corner with strong movement skills. had fastest 3 cone at combine. Decent size can play inside or outside and has decent ball skills. Lacks consistency but has upside for a late round pick

Hughes might be the best all around cover CB in the draft, when you take into account man/zone. Been following him so I know his otf issues but I’m not holding that against him at this point. He’s a playmaker that would be a starter day 1 imho. Not w/out growing pains but he’s a stud.

Unless Dukes injury will be an ongoing problem for him I’m good w him there.

Gotta say I’d much rather Duke at 63 than Hubbard at 31. Same w Jones & Miller. I like Miller but he’s a borderline 2nd rd pick imo.

I have to say I like the rest of your players tho. Big fan of Goedert & Ostman. Both are on my P-TP list.

Perosnally I agree Mike Hughes is a playmaker I just think he has no clue how to play the position. I have watched a lot of tape and he pretty much relies exclusively on athletciism. Does not have good feet and I think is developmental player. In the mock I did I had in the third round. I just think Bill almost exclusively draft front 7 or Oline first round and I don’t see that trend changing. Do I hate the pick no I just think there are decent corners throughout the draft why waste a pick on a corner when front 7 and oline is much more important. I agree our secondary is lacking playmakers and impact players just think Mike Hughes is a huge gamble given the lack of experience for first round.

Jamarco Jones – I have going in the 6th round and wouldn’t recommend drafting him. I think he is worse than basically all the tackles currectly on our roster so pick doesn’t really help especially this early in the draft. I agree with the need for LT just think he is terrible based on all the film I watched on him.

Luke Benkurt pick great mid-round option at QB. No problems with that selection. He has high upside.

Duke is an extremely raw player and I view him as a situational pass rusher. He lacks versatility multiple years of high level play and really needs a lot of development. Can’t really play off the ball so I see as a third down pass rusher. I have him as a 5th round pick in my mock see what happens at draft but not a horrible player just not worth a second round selection.

Of your first round selections I think most are pretty good and logical. Have very similar players in my first round. Only players I think are too high and won’t go in first is James Daniels, Isaiah Oliver, Connor Williams and Rashaan Evans.
Daniels tape was overhyped by NFL network for some reason he is inconsistent in the run missing a lot of blocks, takes really bad angles and lacks strength and size. I see him as more a round 3-5 guy.

Isaiah Oliver personally is the most overhyped prospect in the entire draft. He is horrible tackler looks petrified to have contact may be the worst tackling defender in the draft for corners, lacks elite speed footwork, production consistency. I view him is round 4 or later guy purely on size and upside with some decet coaching. Tape is terrible no clue why he was hyped other than size.

Connor Williams for me lacks the strength and footwork to be first round guy. Not a bad player just to me is a touch overhyped by media. Tape does not show first round player. I think he projects as a guard given lack of size. I think he is at best solid starter I view him as a day 2 guy someone similar to a Forrest Lamp in last years drfat overhyped as top 15 guy went in second round.
Rashaan Evans is a good player. But he doesn’t seem like difference maker to justify drafting an undersized inside linebacker in the first round. He solid player just to me feels more like a solid starter at a position of low value. Didn’t look great in the drills at the combine looked stiff. Overall I have him going third round. Not a bad player just not a first round player for me.

Just my opinion on the mock draft. Solid mock overall just view some players differently than you.

Well I like CB Hughes, good pick he fills need for the not so distant replacement for CB McCourty. OT Jones has decent potential so can’t find much to fault. Wish we could have gotten Miller though. Ejiofor DE one of my favorites very good pick imo. Not a bad mock overall though like to see 7 rounds.